Pivot-axle cultivator.



Patented Oct. l5, I90l.

No. 684,57l. S. N. HENCH.

PIVOT AXLE GULTIVATUR.

(Application filed July 13, 1801.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet I.

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S. N. HENGH.

PIVOT AXLE CULTIVATOR.

(Application filed July 13, 1901.)

{No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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S. N. HENCH. I

PIVOT AXLE CULTIVATOR.

(Application filed. July 13, 1901.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A TTOHNEY N0. 684,57l. Patented 061. I5, I90]. 8. N. HENCH.

PIVOT AXLE CULTIVATOR.

(Application filed July 13, 1901.)

a Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

INVENTOH mm 8 8 M w W S. N. HENCH.

PIVOT AXLE CULTIVATUR. (Application filed July 13, 1901.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

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Patented not. I5, l90l.

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No. 684,57I. Patented Oct. I5, l90l.

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PIVOT AXLE GULTIVATOR.

(Application filed July 13, 1901.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

INVENTOH WITNESSES cfmeflwflabw 6 11, 0mm BY ATTORNEY UNrTso STATES ATENT Fries.

SAMUEL NEVIN I-IENCH, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

PIVOT-AXLE CULTIVATO R.

SIPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 684,571, dated Gctober 1 5, 1901. Application filed July 13, 1901. Serial No. 68,127. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL NEVIN HENCH, of York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pivot-Axle Cultivators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of certain improvements in that kind of cultivators known as pivot-axle cultivators, which will first be described in connection with the accompany-- ing drawings, forming part of this specification, and will then be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan of a cultivator embodying my improvements in their preferred form. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the lever system and connections for laterally operating, and adj ustin g the shovel-gangs. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of one of the wheel-standards,together with the pivot-axle casting pertaining to the same, a portion of the wheel mounted on said axle being shown in section. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the same, omitting the wheel. Fig. 6 is an elevation, partlyin section, of the pivot-axle casting detached, with the wheelhub in section. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of one of the wheel-standards. Fig. 8 is a section on line 8 8, Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section in the plane of the axes of the lever system shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a detached view in perspective of one of the conical journals of the horizontally-pivoted lever of said system. Fig. 11 is a perspective View of one of the ball-hangers by which the front ends of the beams or dragbars of the shovel-gangs are coupled. Figs. 12 to 16 are views of structural details of the lever system for controlling the shovelgangs. Figs. 12 and 13 are perspective views showing the construction and arrangement of the two pairs of arms to which the front ends of the two drag-bars of each gang are jointed. Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the pivot on which the inner one of each pair of inclined arms 1 is pivoted to the arch-beam. Fig. 15 is a like View of the pivot on which the outer arm 1 is pivoted. Fig. 16 is a section on line 16 16, Fig. 15.

A is the arch-beam, to which the wheelstandards are secured. It preferably consists, as shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, of two parallel I-bars a and an intermediate Wooden stringer a, bolted together. Each of the wheel-standards consists of two bars 13, Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 7, preferably of steel. At the top they embrace between them the arch-beam and are crimped, as at b, to fit against the faces of said beams. Between their lower ends is secured the casting b, containing the socket b for the lower pivot, and at a point about midway of their length they are crimped, as at 6 to receive the casting D which is riveted to them, and contains the socket b for the upper pivot. Each standard as a whole is adjustable lengthwise of the arch-beam for the purpose of bringing the Wheels nearer together or farther apart; and for this purpose they are secured to the archbeam by bolts 1), which pass through longitudinal slots a in the arch-beam, Fig. 4.

The axleome for each wheel-is shown at 0. (See more particularly Figs. 4, 5, and 6.) It is a short straight steel spindle clamped in the lower end of a malleable casting having the form of a standard D, from which laterally project on the axle side brackets d, on which are formed the two pivots d d*, the one axially above the other, upon which the axle turns. These pivots enter the sockets b b in the wheel-standard B, and the upper pivot 01 is tubular, as shown in Fig. 6, to permit the passage of a bolt d Figs. 4 and 5, by which the axle-standard is securely held to the wheel -standard B without interfering with the pivotal action. The chief characteristic of this arrangement is that the vertical axis on which the axle turns is brought as near as possible to the vertical axis of the wheel itself, the result of which is that less power is required to operate the pivoted axle, the action is much quicker, and the turning of the wheel is greater for the same movement of the operating lever or treadle than would be the case were the pivotal point farther away from the vertical axis of the wheel. Itis for this reason that pivot-brackets (l overhang that portion of the axle on which the wheel is mounted, as seen, for example, in Figs. 4 and 6,where the brackets are shown as overhanging the hub of the wheel 0, so as to bring the pivots as near to the vertical axis of the wheel as the wheel-spokes will permit.

From the upper end of each axle-standard laterally extends the steering-lever D, terminating in the usual stirrup or footpiece D For the purpose of connecting the axle-standards D so that they shall move in unison each of them is provided with an arm D to which is attached a connecting-rod D (see more particularly Figs. 1, 3, and 5,) the two rods extending toward each other and being clamped in a central holder D in which they are longitudinally adjustable. This adjustment is to enable the connecting-rods D to conform to any changes in the adjustment of the wheelstandards B. i

E is the seat, having its supporting-arms E hinged to the limbs of the divided tongue F in the usual way.

G is a hand steering-lever to be used by the operator when he walks instead of rides. A hook f, attached to one of the limbs of the divided tongue and adapted to engage the holder D as indicated in Fig. 3, is provided in order that the axles can be held from turning on their pivots whenever desired.

There are two shovel-gangs, each consisting of the two drag-bars H and the shovels H, secured to said bars. the axle is connected with the usual springpressure latch-lever H by which it can be lifted and lowered, as desired. II is the stationary segmental rack, in connection with which said lever operates. These devices are well known and require no further description.

The drag-bars H of each shovel-gang are jointed at their front ends to arms I, which are pivoted in a cross-beam I, attached to the divided tongue in such manner that they can swing laterally or crosswise of the machine. The said bars H are also jointed at their front ends to a second set of arms 1 which extend thence diagonally back to the arch-beams A, to which they are pivoted at jj, so that they may have a lateral swinging movement. The structural details of these parts are illustrated fully in Figs. 3 and 11 to 16. The joint by which each of these two pairs of arms is connected to its appropriate drag-bar is a ball-and-socket joint, this being to avoid all lost motion as far as practicable and also to better adapt the parts to conform to any desired adjustment or movement of the shovel-gangs. To this end upon the front of each drag-bar is secured the socket part of the coupling, consisting, as seen more particularly in Figs. 3, 11, 12, 13, and 16, of a twopart socket-piece 2 '2', each part having a flanged shank t to fit upon the drag-bar and having the two half-sockets "L The balls are formed upon the ends of the arms I 1 as seen at '6 The two parts of the socket-piece are fitted together from opposite sides of the drag-bar upon the balls 2, and they are then drawn and fastened together to the endof the drag-bar by bolts 4 Packing can be introduced between the shanks of the two parts of the socket-piece and the sides of the drag- Each gang in rear of bar, and this packing can be gradually re moved to permit the taking up of whatever wear may take place in the joint. The pivot j of the-outer one of each pair of arms I is adjustable fore and aft, for which purpose it is carried by a block j bolted to a slotted inclined bracket j on the arch-beam. By advancing the pivot the front end of the gang will be swung inwardly, and consequently the rear end of the gang will be swung outwardly, and in this way the distance which normally separated the two gangs at their shovel ends can be adjusted as desired. The pivotj', Figs. 13 and 14, of the inner arm I of each pair does not require this adjustment, and therefore is preferably formed in one with its supporting-bracketj, as seen in Fig. 14. The two arms I of each pair are not parallel, but are spread wider apart at the rear than at the front, as indicated more particularly in Fig.- 12. The effect of this is in swinging the gang laterally to give the rear end of the shovel-gang more side movement for a given swing of the front end than would otherwise be the case.

The inner one of each pair of arms I is extended above the cross-beam 1, as indicated at 1 Figs. 3, 12, and 13, and these extensions are connected to the central adjusting latch-lever K by rods J, each jointed at one end to its extension I and coupled at the other end by a ball-and-socket joint to the lever. It is by this lever that the lateral adjustment of the gangs is effected. The lever itself is hung very much in the same fashion as a mariners compass. It is pivoted upon a horizontal axis to a support K, which in turn is pivoted upon a vertical axis 70 in a suitable frame K spanning the divided tongue, as shown more particularly in Fig. 9. To the support K is attached the segmental rack K in connection with which the latch-lever K works. By moving the lever in one direction the gangs will be drawn toward each other and by moving it in the other direction they will be caused to move apart, as

will be apparent without further explanation. The two axes 7t 70 are formed by conepivots, as seen in Figs. 9 and 10, in which latter figure is shown one of the two conepivot brackets k which are attached to the lever.

In order that the shovel-gangs may swing with the wheels, so as to maintain their normal relation thereto undisturbed, I attach to the arm D of one of the axle-standards, Figs. 1 and 3, a connecting-rod W, the hook end of which is adapted to engage one of a series of holes in a bar K rigidly secured to the support K. When the parts are thus connected, the shovel-gangs will swing in unison with the wheels. Of course. to permit of any such movement whatever the hook f must first be disengaged from the holder D If the rod be disconnected from the bar K*, as it can be readily and quickly, whenever desired, the shovel-gangs system will be wholly independent of the pivot-axle system, and by means of the single adjusting-lever K every possible movement of the shovel-gangs can be had that is necessary. When the lever is movedin ahorizontal path, both gangs will be swung laterally in unison. When it is moved in a vertical path the two gangs will be spread apart or closed, as the case may be, while if the lever be moved in a diagonal path, as it readily can be, owing to the arrangement of its two axes 7bin, either one of the gangs can be swung laterally independently of the other, the particular one thus operated depending upon the direction of the diagonal path, whether from right ,to left, or vice versa.

Having described my improvements and the best way now known to me of carrying the same into effect, I state, in conclusion, that I do not limit myself narrowly to the structural details herein described and illus trated, for manifestly the same can be varied considerably without departure from the spirit of the invention; but

What I claim herein as new and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a pivot-axle cultivator, the combination with the main frame, of an axle, and an axle-standard to which said axle is secured, laterally extended so as to overhang the hub of the wheel mounted on said axle and pivoted by said laterally-extended portion to the main frame, whereby the vertical axis upon which the axle turns is brought close to the vertical plane or axis of the wheel, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. In a pivotanle cultivator, a wheel-standard forming part ofthe main frame, and provided with sockets for reception of pivots, in combination with a stud-axle, and an axlestandard rigidly secured to the inner end of said axle and provided with lateral extensions which overhang the hub of the wheel mounted on the axle and are pivoted to the wheelstandard upon a vertical axis, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

3. The arch=beam having its faces formed by the outer faces of I-bars as described, in combination with wheel-standards each com posed of two bars B, which at their upper ends embrace between them and are secured to the beam and are crimped to fit against the face and flanges of the beam, and bearing-blocks, as b, 19 interposed between and rigidly secured to the standards, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

4. The longitudinally-flanged arch-beam, in combination with the wheelstandards each composed of two bars B which at their upper ends embrace between them and are crimped to fit against the face and flanges of the beam, and are united to said beam by a bolt and longitudinal-slot connection as described, bearing-blocks interposed between and rigidly secured to said bars, and axlestandards pivoted to said blocks, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

5. The combination of the archbeam, the wheel-standards secured to and adjustable laterally upon said beam to vary the distance between them; the axles; the axle-standards laterally extended so as to overhang their respective axles and having said lateral1yextended portions pivoted to the wheel-standards upon a vertical axis; the connections D D and the central holder D in which the connections D are secured and can be adjusted in the direction of their length, sub stantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

6. The combination with the pivot-axles, their standards and the main frame in which said standards are pivoted, of the shovelgangs, the arms supporting the same, the system of connecting-rods jointed to said arms, and the operating-lever K hung upon a universal joint and jointed to the interior opposite ends of said connecting-rods, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

7'. In combination With the main frame and the shovel-gangs, the vertical arms I pivoted in the main frame and jointed to the front ends of the drag-bars of the gangs, the inclined arms 1 also jointed to said front ends of the drag-bars and pivoted at the rear to the main frame, the operating-lever K and connections between the inner one of each pair of arms I and said operating-lever, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

8. The combination with the shovel-gang and the main frame of a cultivator, of two pairs of arms I, 1* pivoted at their upper ends to the main frame and at the other end having each a' ball-and-soclzet connection with the front portion of the shovel-gang, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

9. The drag-bar H in combination with the arm I and the inclined arm 1 pivoted at their upper ends to the main frame, and provided each with a ball on its lower end, and the two-part coupling i, 7;, formed with a socket for each ball and adapted to be clamped uponand secured to the drag-bar, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

10. The combination with the main frame and the shovel-gangs, of two pairs of arms I, 1 for each gang, pivoted at their upper ends to the main frame, and jointed at their lower ends to the front ends of the shovel-gangs, one of the upper pivots of each pair of arms 1 being adjustable fore and aft or lengthwise of the frame, substantially as and for the pn rposes hereinbefore set forth.

11. The combination with the main frame, the shovel-gangs, and the vertical pivoted arms I, one pair for each gang, of the inclined arms 1 one pair for each gang, jointed at their lower ends to the shovel-gangs, and pivoted at their upper ends to the main frame, said arms being Wider apart at their upper than at their lower ends, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

12. The combination With the shovel-gangs and the main frame, of the arms I, I jointed at one end to the main frame and at the other end to the shovel-gangs, the rods J jointed to extensions 1 of the arms, the rack-carrying, support K pivoted upon a vertical axis in the main frame, and the operating-lever K pivoted upon a horizontal axis to said support, and jointed to the interior opposite ends of the connecting-rods J, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

13. The combination of the pivot-axles their standards and the main frame; the shovelgangs; the system of arms for supporting the same; the operating-lever connected to said system and pivoted upon a horizontal axis to the rack-carrying support which in turn is pivoted upon a vertical axis to the main 

